Valve mechanism for portable tools



April! 30, 1935.

R. A, NORLING 1,999,369

VALVE MECHANISM FOR PORTABLE TOOLS Filed Jan. 27, 1955 2Sheets-Sheep 1 INVENTOR.

s ATTORNEYK,

April 30, 1935. v R. A. NORLING VALVE MECHANISM FOR PORTABLE TOOLS 2 Sheets-S heet 2 Filed, Jan. 27, 1933 Patented Apr. 30, 1935 UNITE STATS dependent Pneumatic Tocl 00., Chicago, 111., a

corporation of Delaware Application January 27, 1933, Serial No. 653,790

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a throttle and reversing valve mechanism for portable fiuid actuated rotary tools.

The general purpose and object of my invention is to provide safety means for automatically and quickly snapping the valve means closed to stop the motor of the tool should the tool be wrenched out of the hand of the operator or should his hold on the control or grip sleeve for the valve be otherwise suddenly released.

To accomplish this result, I provide a spring tension which is wound up on opem'ng the valve means to quickly close the same on the release of the control member for the valve.

A further object of my invention is to provide means to limit the extent of movement of the reversing valve and thus restrict the operation of the tool to one direction whenever desired.

The means referred to is manually adjustable and thus may be set by the operator to prevent reversing the tool should only a forward direction of rotation be desired.

The invention consists further in the matters hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:-

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a rotary tool embodying the features of my invention;

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are transverse sectional views taken on lines 2-2, 3-3 and t-t respectively, of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view with parts in elevation taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a similar view with the spring omitted showing the valve holding pin set to limit the extent of rotation of the reversing valve;

Fig. 7 is a plan view with parts broken away and in elevation, respectively, of the throttle handle to be hereinafter described;

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 88 of Fig. '7; and

Fig. 9 is an elevational view of the cam member of the throttle handle removed for the purpose of illustration.

In the tool shown in the drawings, the motor has an outer casing l containing a housing 2 for the rotor 3. The latter has blades 4 against which act the pressure fluid supplied to the tool for rotating the rotor. The blades work in radial slots in the rotor and on its pressure side are forced against the housing 2 by pressure admitted to the bottoms of the slots. The rotor 3 is eccentrically mounted in the housing 2 and has contact therewith at one point in its circumference as shown in Fig. 2. The housing is provided on opposite sides of this point of contact with ports 5, 6 through which the pressure fluid for rotating the rotor is admitted to and exhausted from the housing.

' Casing l is made slightly larger than housing 2 to provide chambers l, 8 on opposite sides thereof and with which chambers ports 5 and 6, respectively, connect as shown in Fig. 2. These chambers connect with passages ii, i ii in the cylindcr portion ii of the casing I. Said passages lead to and are separated by the reversing valve assembly mounted in the cylinder it as shown in Fig. 3. The passages and the chambers where they join are separated by contacting web portions I2, it on the cylinder H and housing 2, respectively, as shown in Fig. 2. Chambers 7 and 8 are separated at the opposite side of the assembly by housing 2 contacting with casing l as shown.

The reversing valve assembly comprises a valve member i i rotatably mounted in a sleeve it which extends across passages 9 and it as shown in Fig. 3 and has its inner end supported in the web it as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The sleeve in its portion dividing passages 9 and is is provided with four circumferentially spaced ports. Ports 56, ll respectively, connect with passages 9 and it. Ports l8 and l9 respectively, connect with passages 29 and 2!. Passage 20 serves to supply pressure fluid to the rotor through the reversing valve and is connected with the main inlet passage 22 in the cylinder i l as shown in Fig. 1. Passage 22 has a channel 23 extending about the imperforate part of the sleeve it where it extends across the passage as shown in Fig. 1. A governor actuated valve assembly 2i controls the flow or" pressure fluid from passage 22 to passage 2t. Passage M is in constant connection with the exhaust passage 25 in the frame 26 of the tool as shown in Fig. 1, there being a deflector 2? over the exhaust port.

The portion of the reversing valve in the sleeve i5 at the ports it to i9 is formed to provide a pair of diametrically disposed recesses 28, 29. When the parts are in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3, the reversing valve is closed, the Web portion of the valve between the recesses 28 and 29 covering the port it. When the valve E4 is turned to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, passage 2E9 is connected with passage 9 and pressure fluid admitted to the tool is supplied to the rotor through ports 5, thereby rotating the rotor toward the right. When the valve is turned to connect passage 25 with passage ill, the pressure fluid is supplied to the rotor through ports t, thereby reversing the direction of rotation of the rotor. When the valve is in either of the positions indicated, the exhaust side of the rotor is connected with the exhaust passage 2|. In the form of tool structure shown in Fig. 1, passages 25 and 2| are formed in part in the web I3.

Pressure fluid is supplied to the rotor through a handle assembly, which as shown in Fig. 1, has a tubular stem 35 screwed into the cylinder H at the main inlet passage 22. This positions the handle assembly in ofiset relation to the reversing valve. A nipple 35a is secured to the outer end of the stem 38 and provides means whereby an air supply hose may be connected with the tool. Rotatably mounted on the stem 36 is a sleeve assembly comprising an operating sleeve 3i adjacent the inner end of the stem and a grip sleeve 32 adjacent the outer end of the stem. These sleeves are connected in a inanner to be presently described for turning in unison. The operating sleeve 35 is provided at its inner end with gear teeth 33 which mesh with gear teeth 35 on the reversing valve it. Thus the reversing valve will be rotated upon turning the grip sleeve 32 in either direction. Turning this sleeve also serves to control the opening and closing of a throttle valve 35 disposed in the handle stem 38 at a point adjacent the coupling Eta as shown in Fig. 1. Valve 35 is of the poppet type and when closed seats against a bushing 36 having a non-rotative fit in the stem 39. A coiled spring 3! serves to normally press the valve 35 to its seat.

For opening the throttle valve, I provide a cam member 38 rotatably mounted on the stem 30 beneath the grip sleeve 32 as shown in Figs. 1 and '7. This cam has a pair of diametrically disposed notches or recesses on its forward side, the walls of which provide divergent inclines or cam surfaces 39 as shown in Figs. 7 and 9. These inclines cooperate with a pin id fixed to the stem of the throttle valve 55. Pin 35 extends through registering elongated slots 4i and 52 in the sleeve 36 and stem 35 respectively, so as to be operated upon by the inclines of the cam in the turning of the cam by the sleeves 3i and 32. To accomplish this, the cam is connected with these sleeves. The form of connection shown in the drawings comprises inter-fitting lugs 53 on the operating sleeve SI and notches M and 55 in the associated ends of the grip sleeve 32 and cam 38 respectively, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. The pin 40 being fixed to the stem of the valve 35, is held by the spring 31 against the inclines of the cam 38. When the throttle valve is closed as shown in Fig. 1, the pin fill is at the base of the inclines or" the cam as shown in Fig. 7. The reversing valve M at this time is in its closed position as shown in full lines in Fig. 3.

When the grip sleeve 32 is turned in either direction, it rotates the cam 33 which by its inclines 39 operating against the pin 49 will open the throttle valve .35. At the same time the gear connection between the sleeve 3i and the reversing valve will turn the latter and open it for supplying pressure fluid to the rotor of the tool. From this it will be apparent that turning the grip sleeve in one direction will effect rotation of the tool in one direction and turning the grip sleeve in the opposite direction will reverse the tool. The spindle 46 of the tool as shown in Fig. 1 is connected with the shaft 41 of the rotor 3 through a reducing gear in the case 48 secured to the underside of the frame 25 of the tool assembly. It is of course to be understood that the drill or other working element provided for the tool is connected with the spindle 46 in the usual manner.

To limit the extent to which the reversing valve M may be turned by the grip sleeve 32, I provide a shift pin 49 slidably mounted in the portion of the cylinder H above the outer end of the reversing valve as shown in Figs. 1, 5 and 6. This pin has its lower or inner end formed to provide a fiat sided portion 513 to fit within an arcuate channel or recess 51 in the reversing valve i l for two purposes, first, to hold the reversing valve against endwise movement in its bushing in both directions, and second, to prevent rotation of the pin for disturbing its relation to a spring pressed detent or plunger 52 mounted in the cylinder H at one side of the pin. The inner end of the plunger extends into a longitudinal groove 52a in the pin and cooperates with spaced notches 53, 53 at the bottom of the groove as shown in Fig. 6.

The bottom of the recess 5! is made stepped shape shown in Fig. '6 so as to provide the recess with two portions or sections, one deeper than the other. The shoulder 55 at the junction of the two sections of the groove provides a stop for the inner end of the pin 49 when the pin is fully depressed as shown in Fig. 6. The pin 15 releasably held in this position by the detent 52 engaging in the upper notch 53. The pin 49 thus limits the rotation of the reversing valve from closed to open position for running the rotor .of the tool forward or to the right. Lifting the pin it! to position the detent in the lower notch 53 raises the inner end pin out of the path of the shoulder 56 and the reversing valve is thereupon released for the full extent of its rotary movement so as to control the rotation of the tool spindle in either direction. The groove 5| is made long enough for the purpose and its ends provide shoulders 55, 56 respectively, for the pin. When the pin is held in its raised position as just described, the inner end of the pin is out of the deeper part of the groove and thus the reversing valve may be turned to the fullest extent as permitted by the shoulders 55, 55.

To impart a quick snap rotary movement to the reversing valve to return it to closed position should the tool be wrenched out of the hand of the operator or should the operator otherwise suddenly release the grip sleeve 32, I provide a spiral spring 51 opposite the outer end of the reversing valve and mounted in a closure cap 58. The cap is secured to the cylinder l I over the outer end or the reversing valve and surrounds the handle stem 3! where it extends into the tool casing. The spring 5? is wound up with a tension and has its two ends 53, 59 resting on shoulders 6i 5% provided in the cap 58 as shown in Fig. 5. The spring also presses against a lug 6| arranged within the cap, said lug serving to hold the spring central with the reversing valve. Diametrically disposed pins 62, 63 are provided on the reversing valve at its forward end which pins are adapted to coact with the adjacent ends of the spiral spring 51 as shown in Fig. 5. When the reversing valve is closed, the ends of the spring are supported by the shoulders 60, the spring at such time being out of contact with the pins. The spring is held in place in the cap by a cover plate E i on the inner side of the cap and secured thereto by a screw or other fastener 65.

When the reversing valve is turned toward the right (viewed as in Figs. 5 and 6), the pin 62 is moved into engagement with the adjacent end 59 of the spiral spring and serves to further tension the spring by winding it up as the other end of the spring is held against movement by engagement with the shoulder in the cap. Thus the reversing valve on being opened tensions the spring which should the tool be wrenched out of the hand of the operator, will quickly close the reversing valve as well as the throttle valve 35. Similarly, should the reversing valve be turned toward the left, the lug 63 will operate on the adjacent end of the spring and further tension the spring as the valve is turned to open position. Should the operator suddently release his hold on the grip sleeve 32, the spring tension will be released and the reversing and throttle valves will be quickly closed. The valves would be closed whether the pin 49 is operating in the deeper or the shallower section of the groove i. Manifestly, the arrangement disclosed provides a safety device which will quickly stop the rotation of the tool should the operator suddenly release the grip sleeve of the control handle either purposely or accidentally.

Should it be desired to have the valve assembly for the tool remain in either a forward or reverse position without automatically closing should the grip sleeve be released, the safety spring 5? is omitted and notches E5, 66 would be provided in the cam 38 at the outer ends of its inclines or cam surfaces 39 as shown in Fig. 9. The pin id carried by the throttle valve would seat in these notches when the valve assembly reached its fully open position, either for rotating the motor of the tool in one direction or the other and would be held in open position until forcibly closed by the operator turning the grip sleeve to release the pin from the notches in the cam.

The advantages of my invention have been given in connection with the description of the parts of the tool and need not be reiterated except to state generally that the'spiral spring 5? when employed with the reversing valve acts to quickly return the reversing valve to closed position should the tool be wrenched out of the hand of the operator. It is understood of course that without the notch formation as shown in Fig. 9, the reversing and throttle valves to be maintained in open position must be held in such positions by the operator retaining his hold on the grip sleeve of the live handle of the tool. On releasing the sleeve, the spring arrangement shown and described will automatically close these valves, the spring 5? closing the throttle valve 35 and the spring 5? closing the reversing valve M. Of course, these springs cooperate in this action, with the advantage that the spiral spring serves to give a quick snap movement without dependence on the spring ill. The manually operable pin 49 has the advantage of being able to set the valve assembly for running the motor of the tool in a forward direction only should it not be desired to reverse it. This may be an advantage in some drilling operations and by setting the pin to hold the reversing valve from full rotativ-e movement, will prevent accidental reversing of the tool spindle as is apparent. When a reversing operation is desired, the pin .9 is lifted so that its lower end is free of the shoulder 54 and thus the valve may be turned to the fullest extent of its rotary movement as defined by the groove 5|.

The structure shown and described is simple in construction and operation and its details may be variously changed and modified without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention except as pointed out in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A valve actuating mechanism of the character described, comprising in combination, a rotary valve, a support for the valve, a handle attached to the support and extending outwardly therefrom in lateral offset relation to the valve, a rotatable sleeve on the handle and connected with the valve for turning it into open and closed positions, a spiral spring carried by the support adjacent the vaive, fixed abutments on the support on opposite sides thereof to support the opposite ends of the spring, a projection on the valve and engageable with the spring for moving one end of the spring 01f of.its abutment on turning the valve into open position to wind up the spring, whereby the spring will quickly close the valve on the release of the sleeve, and means carried by the support and engageable with the spring between the abutments to hold the spring central with respect to the valve and to position the spring with its ends at the abutments.

2. A valve actuating mechanism of the character described, comprising in combination, a rotary reversing valve, a support for the valve, a

handle attached to the support and extending outwardly therefrom in lateral ofiset relation to the valve, a rotatable sleeve on the handle and connected with the valve for turning it into open positions on opposite sides of a closed position, a cover secured to the support over the outer end of the valve, a spiral spring in the cover, fixed abutments in the cover to support the opposite ends of the spring, projections on the valve for alternately moving the ends of the spring off of their respective abutments on turning the valve in opposite directions to wind up the spring, whereby the spring will quickly close the valve from either of its open positions on the release of the sleeve, and a lug in the cover between the abutments to hold the spring central with respect to the valve and to position the spring with its ends at the abutments.

3. A valve actuating mechanism of the character described, comprising in combination, a rotary reversing valve, a support for the valve, a

handle attached to the support and extending outwardly therefrom in lateral offset relation to the valve, a manually operable control member on the handle and connected with the valve for turning the valve into open positions on opposite sides of a closed position, said valve having a stepshaped arcuate groove to divide the same into two sections one deeper than the other with the shoulder between the sections opposite the closed position of the valve, a shiftable pin carried by the support adjacent the valve and extensible into either the deeper or the shallower sections of said groove to coact either with the opposite ends of the groove to limit the rotation of the valve to its two open positions or with one end of the groove and said shoulder to limit the rotation of the valve to a single open position, and a detent for holding the pin in or out of the path of the shoulder.

REINHOLD A. NORLING. 

